The UK's highest court, the Law Lords, rules that General Pinochet can face an attempt to extradite him to Spain, dismissing an earlier ruling by the High Court that as a former head of state he is immune from prosecution. Lords rule against Pinochet (25 November)Nail-biter in the Lords (25 November)

General Pinochet waits to learn if the UK's highest court is to grant him immunity from prosecution.Pinochet's moment of truth (24 March)

General Pinochet loses his appeal for immunity from prosecution in a historic second ruling by the UK's highest court, but in a major boost to the general, the Law Lords reduce the number of charges against him, and ask Home Secretary Jack Straw to reconsider the case. Pinochet loses Lords case (24 March)

Augusto Pinochet says he regards himself as a political prisoner in Britain and strongly denies any direct role in human rights abuses.
Pinochet: 'I'm a political prisoner' (18 July)

A judge in Chile orders the intelligence service chief during the rule of General Pinochet to stand trial for murder.
Pinochet ally in murder trial (15 September)

Chile says it will bring Spain before the United Nations' top court to contest their request for the extradition of Augusto Pinochet from the UK.
Chile to fight Pinochet extradition (28 September)

October - December 1999

General Pinochet is excused from appearing at a London hearing in his fight against extradition after a court hears he has recently suffered two minor strokes. Pinochet excused court after strokes (6 October)

A UK court rules that General Pinochet can be extradited to Spain to stand trial for torture and human rights charges.
Way cleared for extradition (8 October)

The Home Office asks General Pinochet to undergo medical tests after his third stroke raises concerns he is unfit for extradition.
Pinochet offered medical tests (5 November)